HTC Infringes on Apple Patents, Might Ban Android Phones

US International Trade Commission ruled last Friday that HTC, maker of Android phones, infringes against two of Apple’s patents.

The initial determination of investigation no. 337-TA-710 by US International Trade Commission (ITC) federal agency is bad news for Android. The ITC administrative law judge (ALJ) is a preview of the official ruling expected on December 6, 2011.

“This could (in a worst-case scenario) result in an import ban against all Android-based HTC products in the U.S. market…

The ITC can impose import bans but it cannot award damages. If Apple prevails with respect to those patents, it’s very likely that Apple will also want HTC to pay damages for past infringement, and if HTC refused to do so, Apple could still sue HTC in a federal court for that purpose.”

Apple is not in the business of collecting licensing tax, so it’s likely that Apple will ask for a ban. The case is expected to also affect Motorola, because Apple has similar patent infringement claims against the Android maker.

ITC: HTC Android Patent Infringements

“The system may receive data that includes a phone number, highlight it for a user, and then, in response to a user’s interaction with the highlighted text, offer the user the choice of making a phone call to the number.”

OP: that’s one of the reasons why iPhone and iPad are magical. Apple devices recognize phone numbers, package tracking number, event date and time, and addresses from say a text email, and opens the appropriate app.

First Judgement Against Android

Although the US federal agency ITC is not a court, it conducts trial-type official administrative hearings that are very likely to stand up to court challenges.

Android is FreeDoomed

And there are plenty more cases against Android’s intellectual property theft.

Oracle, which now owns Sun Microsystems, is also suing Android for stealing and modifying Sun’s Java technology without a license. Oracle might also seek a ban on Android. Sun was successful in its similar fight against Microsoft a decade ago, which resulted in death of Microsoft Java Virtual Machine, an unlicensed and modified Java. Android also runs unlicensed and modified Java virtual machine.

“The system may receive data that includes a phone number, highlight it for a user, and then, in response to a user’s interaction with the highlighted text, offer the user the choice of making a phone call to the number.”